The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), is preparing to hold an extraordinary congress the party’s Deputy Chairperson Ibrahim Waheed announced that the idea will be discussed at the MDP’s National Council meeting on Saturday. During this meeting, they will also talk about setting up a special team to organize the congress.
The extraordinary congress will bring together important members of the MDP. This includes people from the National Council, leaders of permanent committees, heads of the women’s and youth wings, and party members who hold elected positions.
This push for a congress comes after MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail agreed with former president Mohamed Nasheed. Nasheed had said it would be good for the country if the MDP and The Democrats—a group that split off from the MDP—worked together. The two groups have been separate, but some leaders think unity could help them now.
At the same time, there’s growing excitement and rivalry inside the MDP about who will be the party’s candidate for the next presidential election. Many people want to lead the party into the future, making the competition tougher.
The last time MDP held a congress was in 2022. That event happened during a tense time when former leader Mohamed Nasheed and then-president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih disagreed strongly about the party’s direction and ideas.
The congress is a big deal for the MDP. According to the party’s rules, it’s the most powerful gathering they have. It’s where major decisions are made, and it could shape the MDP’s plans for the coming years, especially with elections on the horizon.
